Telecommunication system for monitoring and controlling of a network providing resource to a user

ABSTRACT

A telecommunication system, a computer-implemented method, and a computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer executable program code for processing data related to monitoring and controlling of a network providing resources to users is disclosed herein. The method comprises the following steps performed by the processing system: receiving a RUR from the network component for a resource provided to a user, identifying a resource type of the resource by using a resource usage description comprised in the received RUR, identifying a user type of the user by using an identification information comprised in the received RUR, generating a record in the database, the record comprising the resource usage description comprised in the received RUR, the identification information comprised in the received RUR, the record being associated with the identified resource type and the identified user type, selecting records in the database, each complying with a selection criterion specifying that a record to be selected is associated with a resource type assigned to the selection criterion and a user type assigned to the selection criterion, and sending batch data to the rating system, the batch data comprising resource usage descriptions, each comprised in the respective selected record, the method further comprises the following steps being performed by the rating system in response to receiving of the batch data from the processing system: generating a charge amount for each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data, and sending a billing data to the processing system, the billing data comprising the charge amounts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to telecommunication processing systems. Inparticular, this invention relates to a flexible and efficienttelecommunication system for monitoring and controlling a networkproviding resources to users.

BACKGROUND

In telecommunications, rating is an activity that determines the cost ofchargeable events, such as a cost of service usage, a telephone call, atext message, a data download, a purchase, and the like. Rating may alsobe performed with regard to other services, such as radio-monitored tollways, public transit, and the like. Telecommunication access points,turnstiles, and other access points for chargeable events typicallygenerate usage data, in the form of various data items describingconsumption/usage of various resources. Examples of such data itemsinclude Call Detail Records (CDR), Event Detail Records (EDR), UsageDetail Records (UDR), and Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR). Thesedata items are sent to, or retrieved by, various processing systems.Afterwards, rating systems determine charge amounts for the receiveddata items. The cost of the events is then provided to, or retrieved by,an invoicing process.

SUMMARY

Resource usage record (RUR) is, as understood here, is a data itemcomprising a specification of a resource used/consumed. It can furthercomprise at least one or the following, a quantity of the resourceused/consumed, a specification of date and time when theusage/consumption of the resource took place, a specification of a timeinterval in which the usage/consumption took place, and anidentification information. The identification information can compriseat least one of the following: a device identification of a device whichhas generated the RUR, device identifications of devices, if any,connected to or operated by the device which has generated the RUR.

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods,computer-readable media, and telecommunication systems for processing ofdata representing events of resource consumptions, e.g. RURs, CDRs,IPDRs, EDRs etc. The processing of data is used for monitoring andcontrolling networks providing resources to users. The data to beprocessed can have different formats; in addition it can be related toconsumption of different resources. As usual the processing of RURs andalike is related to contracts of users. A straightforward approach canbe based on processing of each RUR. The rating of a single RUR on abasis of this approach requires identification of a user to whom the MIRis assigned, retrieving of a rule for processing of the RUR from acontract of the identified user, generating a charge amount for the RURusing the retrieved billing rule, sending signals/instructions tocomponents generating RURs for monitoring and/or controlling of aconsumption/usage of resources provided to users. This discreteprocessing of RURs can be inefficient, when compared with batchprocessing of RURs. Implementation of a batch processing on a basis ofthis approach can require aggregation of RURs assigned to a particularuser and calculating charge amounts for the aggregated RURs usingprocessing rules retrieved from a contract of said user. This way ofbatch processing has as a number of disadvantages as well. Aggregationof RURs assigned to a user requires processing of heterogeneous data,because the user can use different resources like electricity and videoon demand, which can originate from different providers. As a resultthereof batch processing of RURs can be compromised by the need toprocess heterogeneous data. Application of this approach is quitedifficult when there is a need to take into account parameters relatedto cumulative consumption/usage of a resource by a plurality of users.This data can be very important for monitoring and managing of loadingof various segments of an electricity distribution grid. Effective groupmanagement of electricity consumption of users connected to a particularsegment of a grid can be very important for preventing overloading ofthe segment of the grid. Another disadvantage of the aforementionedapproach is a problem of data protection. User data, such as usercontracts, is addressed in each event of RUR rating. As a result therating system has to comprise extra data protection means in order toavoid unauthorized disclosure of the user data, which can be caused bye.g. hacker attacks. Moreover, application of the correct billing rulefor the rating of a particular MIR requires that this RUR comprises useridentification data or data which can be used for user identification bya system configured to receive and process RURs. This causes anotherproblem of user data protection, because users are concerned aboutdetails of their resource consumption disclosed to unauthorized parties.A straightforward solution of this problem can require utilization ofadditional hardware and/or software means for data protection in thesystem for receiving and processing of RURs and/or for secure dataexchange between network components configured to generate RURs and thesystem for receiving and processing of RURs. The secure data exchangecan be very difficult to implement when a network component is a simpledevice for registering water or electricity consumption, in particularwhen the network component is a legacy device supporting only internetprotocols, which cannot provide the secure data exchange.

Processing of RURs according to present invention enables avoiding theaforementioned disadvantages. There is no need to generate RURscomprising user identification. RUR can comprise information which issufficient for identification of at least one of the following: a usertype (e.g. private, public, corporate, municipal, user having a postpaidbilling schedule, user having a prepaid billing schedule, user locatedin a particular area, etc.), a type of resource (e.g. gas, electricity,water, internet, video on demand, telephone communication, etc.), and anetwork component, which has generated the RUR (e.g. deviceidentification). Received Milts are translated into records in adatabase: The record in the database comprises a resource usagedescription and an identification information comprised in the originalRUR, further it is associated in the database with the user type and theresource type both identified using the original RUR. The resource usagedescription can comprise a specification of a resource consumed/used anda quantity of the resource consumed/used. In addition the resource usagedescription can comprise a specification of date and/or time when theresource is consumed/used and/or specification of time interval in whichthe resource is consumed/used. The resource usage description can be forinstance a number of kilowatt hours of electricity consumed by homeappliances of a user in a specific interval of time, a bank transferspecifying an amount of money transferred and a day of transfer, aspecification of a phone call made (e.g. CDR), a description of a rentedcar and a specification of a car rental period. This way of dataprocessing does not enable authorized parties having access to thedatabase and/or traffic of RURs to reconstruct a user profile comprisingconsumption/usage of various resources by a particular user.

The records are aggregated by user type and/or the resource type forrating thereby enabling generation of charge amounts using one billingrule. As a result thereof the rating system can process batch wise dataof the same type. The generated charge amounts are appended to the samerecords, which were used for generation of charge amounts. This featureprovides for consistency of data in an efficient way. The rating systemcan store only billing rules. The billing rules are assigned to specificresource types and/or user types. When an authorized party gets accessto the rating process and/or components providing the billing process itis not possible to reconstruct the aforementioned user profile.

The contracts of users can be constructed out of the billing rules. Theycan be stored in an invoicing system being the only one component whichstores user identification data assigned to billing information ofusers. As a result there is no need for advanced data protection forinformation exchange between various components. The invoicing systemreceives invoice data by communicating a list of device identificationsof network components assigned to a particular user. The list as suchdoes not contain any information related to the user identification datasuch as names, addresses, etc. in the other words the list is anonymous.The records are aggregated according to the list and billing relevantdata comprised therein is transmitted to the invoicing system. This wayof contract formulation provides for an effective implementation ofchanges in the contracts. Macro changes, i.e. changes affecting groupsof users, can be implemented by changing billing rules. As usual suchchanges are initiated by resource providers. Changes related to aparticular user can be implemented by changing an identificationprocedure for identifying user types and resource types usinginformation comprised in RURs received from a particular networkcomponent. As a result next RUR received from the network component willresult in the generation of a record associated with a different usertype and/or a different resource. In addition, the telecommunicationsystem comprises various functionalities related to interaction withusers in cases when billing rules are changed and/or a user responserelated to changes in billing rules is required. As it will be shownfurther in description, users can select different billing rules offeredby the telecommunication system or get notifications related to changesin billing rules without a risk of getting their confidentialinformation disclosed to unauthorized parties. Yet another advantage ofthe claimed invention is a straightforward aggregation of billing dataper user. This is of particular advantage for convergent billing. In anycase, it is much more practical for almost any user to receive one billfor usage of different resources provided by different providers insteadof receiving a separate bill from each provider. Another advantageousfunctionalities of the present invention like monitoring and managing ofresource consumption/utilization, effective processing of down paymentsin combination with offset recurring charges in variable billing cyclesare discussed further.

It is an objective of embodiments of the invention to provide for atelecommunication system configured to provide effective and secureprocessing of data related to resource usage, a computer-implementedmethod for performing same, and a computer readable medium having storedthereon a computer executable program code for executing thecomputer-implemented method.

According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to acomputer-implemented method for processing of resource usage records,RURs, in a telecommunication system comprising a rating system, adatabase, a processing system, and a network component configured togenerate the RURs, each of the RURs comprising a resource usagedescription of usage of one of resources and an identificationinformation. The method comprises the following steps performed by theprocessing system: receiving a RUR from the network component for aresource provided to a user, identifying a resource type of the resourceby using a resource usage description comprised in the received RUR,identifying a user type of the user by using an identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR, generating a record in thedatabase, the record comprising the resource usage description comprisedin the received RUR, the identification information comprised in thereceived RUR, the record being associated with the identified resourcetype and the identified user type, selecting records in the database,each complying with a selection criterion specifying that a record to beselected is associated with a resource type assigned to the selectioncriterion and a user type assigned to the selection criterion, andsending batch data to the rating system, the batch data comprisingresource usage descriptions, each comprised in the respective selectedrecord, the method further comprises the following steps being performedby the rating system in response to receiving of the batch data from theprocessing system: generating a charge amount for each of the resourceusage descriptions comprised in the batch data, and sending a billingdata to the processing system, the billing data comprising the chargeamounts.

According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to acomputer-implemented method for controlling a distribution of a resourcevia a distribution grid consisting of segments. The method is enabled bya telecommunication system comprising a rating system, a processingsystem, a database, and network components configured to controlconsumption of the resource and to generate resource usage records,RURs. Each RUR comprises a resource consumption description of theresource delivered via the distribution grid an identificationinformation comprising a device identification of a network componentwhich has generated the each RUR. The method comprises the followingsteps executed by the processing system: receiving a RUR from one of thenetwork components for the resource consumed by a user, identifying asegment of the distribution grid and a user type of the user by using anidentification information comprised in the received RUR, generating arecord in a database, the record comprising a resource consumptiondescription comprised in the received RUR and the identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR, the record being associatedwith the identified segment and the identified user type. The ratingsystem is configured to generate charge amounts for resource usageconsumption descriptions comprised in records complying with a selectioncriterion specifying that a record to be selected has the identifieduser type and the identified segment. The processing system isconfigured to perform the following steps of the method in response toreceiving of a request to change the billing rule: changing the billingrule according to the request, selecting records according to theselection criterion, identifying device identifications comprised in theselected records, sending a description of the changed billing rule tonetwork components which device identifications are identified. At leastone of the network components is configured to perform the followingstep of the method in response to receiving of the description: adaptingcontrol of the resource consumption according to the receiveddescription.

According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to acomputer readable medium having stored thereon a computer executablecode for execution by a computer processor controlling a control system,wherein execution of the instructions of the executable code causes thecomputer processor to execute the computer-implemented method of any ofthe aforementioned embodiments.

According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to atelecommunication system comprising a rating system, a processingsystem, a database, and a network component configured to generateresource usage records, RURs, each comprising a resource usagedescription of usage of one of resources and an identificationinformation, the database being configured to store records. Theprocessing system is configured to perform the following steps:receiving a RUR from the network component for a resource provided to auser, identifying a resource type of the resource by using a resourceusage description comprised in the received RUR, identifying a user typeof the user by using an identification information comprised in thereceived RUR, generating a record in the database, the record comprisingthe resource usage description comprised in the received RUR, theidentification information comprised in the received RUR, the recordbeing associated with the identified resource type and the identifieduser type, selecting records in the database according to a selectioncriterion specifying that a record to be selected is associated with aresource type assigned to that selection criterion and a user typeassigned to that selection criterion, and sending batch data to therating system, the batch data comprising resource usage descriptions,each comprised in the respective selected record. The rating system isconfigured to perform the following steps in response to receiving ofthe batch data from the processing system: generating a charge amountfor each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data,and sending a billing data to the processing system, the billing datacomprising the charge amounts.

According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to atelecommunication system for controlling a distribution of a resourcevia a distribution grid consisting of segments, the telecommunicationsystem comprising a rating system, a processing system, a database, andnetwork components configured to control consumption of the resource andto generate resource usage records. RURs, wherein each RUR comprises aresource consumption description of the resource delivered via thedistribution grid an identification information comprising a deviceidentification of a network component which has generated the each RUR.The processing system is configured to perform the following steps:receiving a RUR from one of the network components for the resourceconsumed by a user, identifying a segment of the distribution grid and auser type of the user by using an identification information comprisedin the received RUR, generating a record in a database, the recordcomprising a resource consumption description comprised in the receivedRUR and the identification information comprised in the received RUR,the record being associated with the identified resource type and theidentified user type. The rating system is configured to generate chargeamounts for resource usage consumption descriptions comprised in recordscomplying with a selection criterion specifying that a record to beselected has the identified user type and the identified segment. Theprocessing system is configured to perform the following steps inresponse to receiving of a request to change the billing rule: changingthe billing rule according to the request, selecting records accordingto the selection criterion, identifying device identifications comprisedin the selected records, sending a description of the changed billingrule to network components which device identifications are identified.At least one of the network components is configured to perform thefollowing in response to receiving of the description: adapting controlof the resource consumption according to the received description.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter of thisspecification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings,and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example environment forprocessing of data related to resource usage.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods,computer-readable media, and telecommunication systems for processing ofdata related to resource usage. A resource usage event can be specifiedas a RUR comprising at least one of the following a resource usagedescription and an identification information. Various components of thetelecommunication systems are configured to perform specific steps ofthe computer-implemented methods. As it will be clearly seen from thefollowing description, the distribution of the workload of processing ofthe resource usage events provides for an improvement of productivityand an advanced data protection.

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to practice the disclosed subject matter, and is provided in thecontext of one or more particular implementations. Various modificationsto the disclosed implementations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may beapplied to other implementations and applications without departing fromscope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended tobe limited to the described and/or illustrated implementations, but isto be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed herein.

According to another embodiment, the rating system is configured togenerate charge amounts for resource usage description comprised inbatch data according to billing rules, wherein each of the billing rulesis assigned to a respective selection criterion of a set of selectioncriteria comprising the selection criterion, wherein the rating systemis configured to perform the following step in response to receiving ofthe batch data from the processing system: identifying a billing ruleassigned to the selection criterion, wherein the generating of thecharge amount for each of the resource usage descriptions comprised inthe batch data is executed according to the identified billing rule.

According to another embodiment, the rating system is configured togenerate charge amounts for resource usage descriptions comprised inbatch data according to billing rules each having a resource usagespecification, wherein each of the billing rules is assigned to arespective selection criterion of a set of selection criteria comprisingthe selection criterion, wherein the resource type assigned to theselection criterion is the identified resource type and the user typeassigned to the selection criterion is the identified user type, whereinthe rating system is configured to perform the following in response toreceiving the of batch data from the processing system: identifying abilling rule assigned to said selection criterion, wherein thegenerating of the charge amount for each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the batch data is executed according to theidentified billing rule, wherein the rating system is configured toperform the following steps in response to receiving the batch data fromthe processing system: selecting another billing rule when the resourceusage description comprised in the received UA does not comply with aresource usage specification of the identified billing rule and complieswith a resource usage specification of the another billing rules,wherein the another billing rule is assigned to another selectioncriterion, wherein another user type and the identified resource typeare assigned to the another selection criterion, sending to theprocessing system a notification request comprising a description of theanother billing rule, wherein the processing system is configured toperform the following in response to receiving the notification request:sending to the network component a notification message comprising thedescription of the another billing rule, the network component isconfigured to perform the following steps in response to receiving ofthe notification message: prompting the user as to whether the userwishes to approve the another billing rule, sending to the processingsystem a response message indicating that the user has approved theanother billing rule, when the user has approved the another billingrule, wherein the processing component is configured to perform thefollowing in response to receiving of the response message: executing areconfiguration procedure causing the processing system to identify theanother user type in further execution of the identifying of a user typeof a user by using an identification information comprised in anotherreceived RUR, when the another received RUR is received from the networkcomponent for the resource provided to the user.

According to another embodiment, the selecting of the records in thedatabase and the sending of the batch data to the rating system isexecuted according to a schedule and/or when an overall number ofrecords in the database complying with the selection criterion is biggerthan a predefined value.

According to another embodiment, the selection criterion specifies apredefined time interval in which a resource specified in a resourceusage description comprised in a record to be selected is used.

According to another embodiment, the selection criterion specifies thata record to be selected comprises a resource usage description for whichthe charge amount is not yet generated.

According to another embodiment, the processing system is configured toperform the following step in response to receiving of the billing datafrom the rating system: appending each of the charge amounts to therespective record comprising the resource usage description for whichthe each of the charge amounts is generated, wherein thetelecommunication system further comprises an invoicing system beingconfigured to perform the following at an end of a billing cycleassigned to the user: sending to the processing system an invoice datarequest comprising a record selection criterion assigned to the user andthe billing cycle, the processing system being configured to perform thefollowing steps in response to receiving of the invoice data request:selecting other records in the database each comprising anidentification information complying with the record selectioncriterion, a charge amount, and a resource usage description indicatingthat a resource used according to that resource usage description isused during the billing cycle, sending invoice data to the invoicingsystem, the invoice data comprising charge amounts, each comprised inthe respective another record, the invoicing system being configured toperform the following step in response to receiving of the invoice data:generating an invoice using the invoice data.

According to another embodiment, the generating of the charge amount foreach of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data isexecuted according to a billing rule assigned to the selectioncriterion. The processing system being configured to perform thefollowing step in response to receiving the invoice data request:associating each of the other records with a data marker indicating thatthe charge amount comprised in the each of the other records is used forinvoicing. The wherein the processing system is configured to performthe following steps in response to receiving of a request to assignanother billing rule to the selection criterion: cancelling theassigning of the billing rule to the selection criterion, assigning theanother billing rule to the selection criterion, repeating the selectingof records in the database according to the selection criterion, andsending another batch data to the rating system, wherein the anotherbatch data comprises resource usage descriptions, each comprised in therecord selected in the repeating of the selecting of the records in thedatabase according to the selection criterion. The rating system isconfigured to perform the following steps in response to receiving ofthe another batch data from the processing system: generating a chargeamount for each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in theanother batch data using the another billing rule, and sending anotherbilling data to the processing system, the billing data comprising thecharge amounts generated in the generating of the charge amount for eachof the resource usage descriptions comprised in the another batch data.The processing system is configured to perform the following step inresponse to receiving of the another billing data from the ratingsystem: appending each of the charge amounts comprised in the anotherbilling data to the respective record comprising the resource usagedescription for which the each of the charge amounts comprised in theanother billing data is generated when the respective record comprisingthe resource usage description for which the each of the charge amountscomprised in the another billing data is generated does not comprise thecharge amount or the respective record comprising the resource usagedescription for which the each of the charge amounts comprised in theanother billing data is generated is associated with the data marker,otherwise substituting a charge amount comprised in the respectiverecord comprising the resource usage description for which the each ofthe charge amounts comprised in the another billing data is generated bythe each of the charge amounts comprised in the another billing data.

According to another embodiment, the invoicing system being configuredto perform the following step at an end of another billing cycleassigned to the user: sending to the processing system another invoicedata request comprising the record selection criterion and the anotherbilling cycle. The processing system being configured to perform thefollowing steps in response to receiving of the invoice data request:selecting other records in the database each comprising either anidentification information complying with the record selectioncriterion, only one charge amount, and a resource usage descriptionindicating that a resource used according to that resource usagedescription is used during the another billing cycle or anidentification information complying with the record selection criterionand charge amounts, and sending another invoice data to the invoicingsystem, the invoice data comprising charge amounts each comprised in therespective another record selected in the selecting of the other recordsin the database each comprising either an identification informationcomplying with the record selection criterion, only one charge amount,and the resource usage description indicating that the resource usedaccording to that resource usage description is used during the anotherbilling cycle or the identification information complying with therecord selection criterion and the charge amounts, wherein the chargeamounts comprised in the same record are associated with each other inthe another invoice data. The invoicing system being configured toperform the following step in response to receiving of the anotherinvoice data: generating another invoice using the another invoice data.The generating of the another invoice using the another invoice datacomprises: specifying a charge amount in the another invoice when thatcharge amount does not have an associated charge amount in the anotherinvoice data, and specifying a differential charge amount in the anotherinvoice for the associated charge amounts, wherein the differentialcharge amount is equal to one of the associated charge amounts minusanother one of the associated charge amounts, wherein the one of theassociated charge amounts is generated after the another one of theassociated charge amounts.

According to another embodiment, the identification information of thereceived RUR comprises a device identification of the network component.The telecommunication system comprises a resource provider systemconfigured to generate RURs related to basic fees for providing accessto the resource for the user. The resource provider system is configuredto perform the following step: sending another RUR to the processingsystem, the another RUR comprising an identification information and aresource usage description. The identification information comprised inthe another RUR comprises the device identification of the networkcomponent. The resource usage description comprised in the another RURcomprises a basic fee for providing access to the resource and adescription of the resource. The processing system is configured toperform the following steps: receiving the another RUR from the resourceprovider system, identifying a resource type of the resource by usingthe resource usage description comprised in the another RUR, identifyinga user type of the user by using the identification informationcomprised in the another RUR, generating another record in the database.The another generated record comprises the resource usage descriptioncomprised in the another RUR, the identification information comprisedin the another RUR, a charge amount being equal to the basic feecomprised in the resource usage description comprised in the anotherRUR. The another record is associated with the resource type identifiedin the identifying of resource type of the resource by using theresource usage description comprised in the another RUR and the usertype identified in the identifying of the user type of the user by usingthe identification information comprised in the another RUR.

According to another embodiment, the identification information of thereceived RUR comprises a device identification of the network component,wherein the record generated in the step of the generating of the recordin the database is assigned to the device identification, wherein therecord selection criterion comprises a list of device identifications,wherein the record selection criterion specifies that an identificationinformation of a record to be selected comprises any one of the deviceidentifications of the list.

According to another embodiment, the rating system is configured togenerate charge amounts for resource usage descriptions comprised inbatch data according to billing rules each having a cumulative resourceusage specification, wherein each of the billing rules is assigned to arespective selection criterion of a set of selection criteria comprisingthe selection criterion, wherein the rating system is configured toperform identifying a billing rule assigned to said selection criterionin response to receiving of the batch data from the processing system,wherein the generating of the charge amount for each of the resourceusage descriptions comprised in the batch data is executed according tothe identified billing rule, wherein the invoice data comprises resourceusage descriptions, each comprised in the respective another record,wherein the invoicing system is configured to perform the followingsteps: calculating a cumulative resource usage volume using the resourceusage descriptions in the invoice data each having the respective chargeamount generated using the identified billing rule, selecting anotherbilling rule when the cumulative resource usage volume complies with acumulative resource usage specification of the another rule, wherein theanother billing rule is assigned to another selection criterion, whereinanother user type and the identified resource type are assigned to theanother selection criterion, prompting the user as to whether the userwishes to approve the another bulling rile, sending to the processingsystem a request to use the another billing rule for the user when theuser has approved the another billing rule, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following steps in response toreceiving of the request to use the another billing rule for the user:executing a reconfiguration procedure causing the processing system toidentify the another user type in further execution of the identifyingof a user type of a user by using an identification informationcomprised in another received RUR, when the another received RUR isreceived for the resource provided to the user from any of the networkcomponents having a device identification comprised in the list ofdevice identifications.

According to another embodiment, the identification information of thereceived RUR comprises a device identification of the network component,wherein the record generated in the step of the generating of the recordin the database is associated with the device identification, whereinthe generating of the charge amount for each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the batch data is executed according to abilling rule assigned to the selection criterion, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following in response to receivingof a request to assign another billing rule to the selection criterion:cancelling the assigning of the billing rule to the selection criterion,assigning the another billing rule to the selection criterion, sending anotification message to network components of the telecommunicationsystem, each having device identification assigned to the respectiveselected record, the notification message comprises a description of theanother billing rule.

According to another embodiment, the request to assign the anotherbilling rule to said selection criterion is received from a resourceprovider.

According to another embodiment, a network component of thetelecommunication system is configured to perform the following step inresponse to receiving of the notification message: sending acommunication signal to a user, the communication signal comprises thedescription of the another billing rule.

According to another embodiment, the processing system is configured toperform the following in response to receiving of the request to assignthe another billing rule to said selection criterion: sending aconfiguration instruction to the rating system to use the anotherbilling rule for generation of charge amounts comprised in batch datacomprising resource usage descriptions comprised in records selectedaccording to the selection criterion. The rating system is configured toperform the following in response to receiving of the configurationinstruction: executing a reconfiguration procedure causing the ratingsystem to generate charge amounts using the another billing rule infurther execution of the generating of a charge amount for each ofresource usage descriptions comprised in another received batch datawhen the another received data comprises resource usage descriptionscomprised in records selected according to the selection criterion.

According to another embodiment, the rating system is configured togenerate charge amounts for resource usage descriptions comprised inbatch data according to billing rules each having a cumulative resourceusage specification, wherein each of the billing rules is assigned to arespective selection criterion of a set of selection criteria comprisingthe selection criterion, wherein the rating system is configured toperform the following steps in response to receiving of the batch datafrom the processing system: calculating a cumulative resource usagevolume using the batch data, preforming the following when thecumulative resource usage volume does not comply with a cumulativeresource usage specification of a billing rule assigned to the selectioncriterion: selecting anther billing rule, wherein the cumulativeresource usage volume complies with a cumulative resource usagespecification of the another billing rule, cancelling the assigning ofthe billing rule to the selection criterion, assigning the anotherbilling rule to the selection criterion, wherein the charge amounts inthe generating of the charge amount for the each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the batch data are generated using the anotherbilling rule when the cumulative resource usage volume complies with thecumulative resource usage specification of the another billing rule,wherein the charge amounts in the generating of the charge amount forthe each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch dataare generated using the billing rule when the cumulative resource usagevolume complies with the cumulative resource usage specification of thebilling rule.

According to another embodiment, the identification information of thereceived RUR comprises a device identification of the network component,wherein the record generated in the step of the generating of the recordin the database is associated with the device identification, whereinthe rating system is configured to perform the following steps inresponse to receiving of the batch data from the processing system:sending to the processing system a notification request comprising adescription of the another billing rule when the cumulative resourceusage volume does not comply with the cumulative resource usagespecification of the billing rule assigned to the selection criterion.The processing system is configured to perform the following in responseto receiving of the notification request: sending a notification messageto network components of the telecommunication system, each havingdevice identification assigned to the respective selected record, thenotification message comprising the description of the another billingrule.

According to another embodiment, the request is received from a resourceprovider of the resource, wherein the request is generated by theresource provider on a basis of monitoring availability of the resourceby resource sources connected to the grid.

According to another embodiment, the at least one of the networkcomponent is configured to manage consumption of the resource by causinga resource accumulation device being connected to the same node of thedistribution grid as the at least one of the network components when aprice of the resource according to the billing rule is below apredefined price and by causing the resource accumulation device toprovide the resource as alternative to the resource provided via thegird when the price of the resource according to the billing rule ishigher than another predefined price.

According to another embodiment, the resource is electricity.

According to another embodiment, the at least one of the networkcomponents is a smart home appliance.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example environment 100 for processing of datarelated to consumption/usage of resources. The example environmentcomprises a one or more network components 101, 102, a processing system120, a database 130 which can be comprised in a processing system 120, arating system 140, an invoicing system 150, a resource provider system180, and one or more computer networks 160. The computer networks cancomprise one or more wireless networks and/or one or more wirednetworks. The wireless network can be a WiFi or a digital cellulartelecommunication network. Utilization of the latter for providingcommunication between network components and the processing system canprovides for an effective operation of a plurality of networkcomponents. The network components can register and/or controlconsumption/usage of various resources. They can be installed in various(remote) locations. In this case wireless communication eliminates theneed to provide a wired connection to each of the network components.The one or more networks 160 provide communication between the networkcomponents and the processing system, between the processing and thedatabase when the latter is implemented a remote device, between theprocessing system and the rating system, between the processing systemand the invoicing system, between the resource provider system andvarious components of the example environment such as the rating system,the invoicing system, the processing system, one or more resourcegenerating facilities 170, 171, and one or more network components, andif necessary between the rating system and the invoicing system. Theresource providing facilities can be for instance electricity powerplants as depicted on FIG. 1. Alternatively the resource providingfacilities can be base stations of a digital cellular telecommunicationnetwork. The resource provider system can distribute to new billingrules via one or more computer networks 160 to various components of theexample environment such as the network components 101, 102, the ratingsystem 140, the processing system 120. Alternatively or in addition, theresource provider system can modify a billing rule used by any of theaforementioned components. The distribution of the new billing rules ormodification of the currently used billing rules can be executed by theresource provider system on a basis of information received from theresource generation facilities 171, 170. The received information canindicate availability of resources at the resource generationfacilities. In one example the availability of resources can bedetermined by a supply-demand situation on a market of the resources,wherein high demand of a resource drives its price high and low demandof the resources drives its price low.

The one or more networks 160 can further provide for a communicationbetween the user 100 and an invoicing system 150. One or more networkscomponents can comprise means for communication with the user 110. Thiscan be implemented by hardware user interfaces comprised in some of thenetwork components and/or by communicating with devices operated by theuser, e.g. a smartphone. The communication between the device operatedby the user and the network component can be implemented via the one ormore computer networks 160. The network components are configured togenerate RURs being descriptive of events of usage/consumption ofresources by users. Each RUR comprises a resource usage description andan identification information. The resource usage description specifiesa resource used/consumed by a user and/or quantity of a resourceused/consumed by the user. The identification information can comprise adevice identification of a network component which has generated a RUR.The network components can be installed at different nodes of variousdistribution networks and/or grids 197 providing to users resources likewater, electricity, and gas. In this case the identification informationcomprised in a RUR generated by such a network component can compriseinformation enabling determination a node and/or segment 199, 198 of thenetwork to which the network component is connected. FIG. 1 depictsnetwork components 101 and 102 connected to a segment 199 of the grid197. The grid comprises another segment 198. Other users 195, 194 areconnected to a segment 198 of the grid.

The network component can be for instance a handheld mobile deviceconfigured to generate RURs related to internet traffic provided to thehandheld mobile device or a telephone call made using the handheldmobile device. Another network component can be an electricity or waterusage meter. Some of the network components can be configured tomanage/control consumption of a resource like electricity. Such anetwork component can be a smart home appliance causing an electricalaccumulator to provide electricity stored in an accumulator for usage byother home appliances when a price of electricity is higher than athreshold price and causing the electrical accumulator to charge from agrid when the price of electricity is lower than another thresholdprice. The network component 101 (102) can be such a smart homeappliance electricity meter. The network component is configured togenerate RURs related to electricity consumed by home appliances 193(191) and for charging the electrical accumulator 192 (190). The networkcomponent is connected to the segment 199 of the electricitydistribution grid 197. The network component is configured to receivebilling rules from the resource provider system 180 via a computernetwork 160. The billing rule can specify a current price of electricityand/or pricing of electricity versus time for an interval of time in thefuture. For instance the billing rule can comprise a day electricitytariff and a night electricity tariff for tomorrow, for coming week, orfor coming month. Depending on the current price and/or future pricingthe network component can manage the following options for electricityconsumption: in a first case when the current price of electricity ofbelow a first price the network component can cause charging of theelectrical accumulator, in a second case when the current price ofelectricity is higher than a second price the network component canprovide electricity stored in the electrical accumulator for consumptionby home appliances 193 as alternative to electricity delivered via thesegment 199 of the electrical grid 197 thereby reducing or preventingconsumption of the electricity delivered to the home appliances 193 viathe segment 199, wherein the second price is higher than the firstprice.

The processing system is configured to receive RURs and generate recordsin database using information comprised in the received RURs. It isfurther configured to select the records according to selection criteriaand send information in the selected records to the rating system or tothe invoicing system. The rating system is configured to generate chargeamounts using information received from the processing system and tosend the generated charge amounts to the processing system. Theprocessing system is configured to receive the charge amounts from therating system and to append them to the records. The invoicing system isconfigured to generate invoices using data received from the processingsystem. The resource provider system is configured to monitor aconsumption/usage of a resource by receiving information related to theconsumption/usage of the resource from the processing system, monitoravailability of the resource by communicating with the resourcegeneration facilities, to generate new billing rules (and/or to changecurrently used billing rules) on a basis of the availability of theresource and an overall consumption of the resource calculated using theinformation received from the processing system, and to distribute thenew billing rules (and/or changes in the currently used billing rules)to components of the example environment 100, such as the networkcomponents, 101, 102, the invoicing system 150, the rating system 140,and the processing system 120.

Usage/consumption of resource can be related to fixed (periodic) costs(e.g. incidental costs, basic fees) which are not related to an actualusage/consumption of the resource. An example of such a cost can be apayment for connection of a user device to a resource distributionnetwork. For instance, a telecom provider can request a fixed amount tobe payed when a user purchases a new SIM card for his mobile phone. Theprovider can further request another fixed amount to be paid on aperiodic basis with independent of duration of telephone calls, if any,made using the purchased SIM card. Users having prepaid accounts bytelecom providers can pay fixed amounts per month even if they do notuse services of the telecom providers at all. In order to address thisdemand, the resource provider system and/or the invoicing system can beconfigured to generate RURs and send them to the processing system, Inits own turn the processing system can be configured to receive the RURsfrom the resource provider system and process them in the same way asthe RURs received from the network components.

The invoicing system can be configured to generate RURs in other casesas well. These RURs can be sent by the invoicing system to theprocessing system which can be configured to process them in the sameway as the RURs received from the network components. The RURs generatedby the invoicing system can be generated by the invoicing system on abasis of analysis of data received from the processing system. The datareceived from the invoicing system can comprise resource usagedescriptions of a particular resource. The invoicing system can generatea RUR when a cumulative resource usage volume of the resource calculatedusing the resource usage descriptions is higher than a threshold valueor lower than another threshold value. This can be the case when a userdoes not use the resource as specified in his contract. The generatedRUR, when processed by the rating system and the invoicing system,results in an (penalty) charge amount in the invoice generated by theinvoicing system for the user or in a reduction of an overall chargeamount specified in the invoice.

The network components, the processing system, the database, the ratingsystem, and the invoicing system, each can comprise a computer processorand a memory storing computer executable code which when executed by theprocessor causes it to execute steps of computer-implemented methodsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a computer-implemented method for initial processingof the RURs received from network components and generation of recordsin the database in response to the receiving of the RURs. The methodbegins with a process block 200. In process block 200 processing systemreceives a RUR is received the from a network component. The receivedRUR is generated for a resource provided to a user. Process block 201 isexecuted after process block 200. In process block 201 the processingsystem identifies a resource type of the resource by using a resourceusage description comprised in the received RUR. The resource type canbe for instance water, gas, electricity, telephone call, internetconnection, a bank transaction, etc. Process block 202 is executed afterprocess block 201. In process block 202. the processing systemidentifies a user type of the user by using an identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR. The user type can be forinstance a user of a particular group of users, a private user, acorporate user, a user having a prepaid contract, a user having apostpaid contract, a user authorized to user a particular group ofresources, etc. The user type can be a combination of these user typesas well. The identification of the user type can be implemented byassigning of a device identifications comprised in identificationinformation of RURs to user types. For instance when the processingsystem identifies a particular device identification comprised inidentification information comprised in a received RUR, then itidentifies a corresponding particular user type assigned to saidparticular device identification. In general, the processing system canstore lists of device identifications each being assigned to arespective user type. Process block 203 is executed after process block202. In process block 203 the processing system generates a record inthe database. The record comprising the resource usage descriptioncomprised in the received RUR and as option the identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR. The record is associated withthe identified resource type and the identified user type. The recordcan be further associated with the device identification of the networkcomponent from which the RUR is received. Process blocks 200-203 can berepeated for each RUR received from the same or other networkcomponents.

FIG. 3 illustrates a computer-implemented method for rating of theresource usage descriptions comprised in the records stored in thedatabase. The method begins with process block 300. In process block 300the processing system selects records in the database according to aselection criterion. The selection criterion specifies that that arecord to be selected is associated with a resource type assigned tothat selection criterion and a user type assigned to that selectioncriterion. The selection criterion can further specify a predefined timeinterval in which a resource specified in a resource usage descriptioncomprised in a record to be selected is used. The selection criterioncan further specify that a record to be selected comprises a resourceusage description for which the charge amount is not yet generated.Execution of process block 300 can be triggered according to a schedule,specifying time events when records have to be selected according to theselection criterion. Alternatively or in addition execution of processblock 300 can be triggered when a number of records complying with theselection criterion are bigger than a predefined number. The selectioncriterion can be one of selection criteria of a set of selectioncriteria. For each of at least some of them a respective schedule and/ora respective predefined number triggering execution of process block 300can be specified. Each of the selection criteria can have a respectivebilling rule assigned to it. The billing rule can specify charge amountversus a cumulative volume of a consumed resource and as optiondifferent pricing of the resource depending on time interval in whichthe resource is consumed. For instance it can specify a price ofelectricity in a time interval 20:00 6:00 and a price of electricity ina time interval 6:00-22:00.

Process block 301 is executed after process block 300. In process block301 the processing system sends batch data to the rating system. Thebatch data comprises resource usage descriptions, each comprised in therespective record selected in process block 300. Process block 302 isexecuted after process block 301. In process block 302 the rating systemidentifies a billing rule assigned to the selection criterion used inprocess block 300. This can be done in various ways. Data determiningthe assignment of the selection criteria to the respective selectioncriteria can be stored either in the rating system or in the processingsystem. When the data is stored in the processing system then the batchdata specifies the billing rifle to be used by the rating system. Whenthe data is stored in the rating system than the batch data specifiesthe selection criterion which is used in process block 300. The latteroption can provide better data protection because the rating system doesnot communicate with network components. As a result thereof its dataexchange can be localized/limited only to communication with theprocessing system. Process block 303 is executed after process block302. In process block 303 the rating system generates a charge amountfor each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch datausing the billing rule identified in process block 302. Process block304 is executed after process block 303. In process block 304 the ratingsystem sends a billing data to the processing system. The billing datacomprises the charge amounts generated in process block 303. Processblock 305 is executed after process block 304. In process block 305 theprocessing system receives the billing data. Afterwards it appends eachof the charge amounts comprised in the billing data to the respectiverecord comprising the resource usage description for which the each ofthe charge amounts is generated in process block 303.

Although generation of charge amounts for various resource usagedescriptions originating from different network components of differentusers are generated in one process block 303 using one billing rule itis possible to implement individual rating for each user. In this casenot only resource usage descriptions have to be comprised in the batchdata, but device identifications as well. Each resource usagedescription has to be associated with the device identification of thenetwork component which has generated a RUR comprising the each resourceusage description. In its own turn the billing rule can be formulatedsuch that not only resource usage description is used for generation ofa charge amount but a device identification as well. This approach canbe illustrated on a basis of simple example. A billing rule can have twospecifications for generation of charge amounts. One specification canbe used for generating charge amounts using resource usage descriptionsoriginating from one network component having a device identification.Another specification can be used for generating charge amounts usingresource usage descriptions originating from another network componenthaving another device identification.

As it is mentioned above, other components of the example environment100 can generate RURs as well. The resource provider system can beconfigured to generate RURs related to basic fees for providing accessto resources for users. In particular, the resource provider system isconfigured to perform the following step: sending a RUR to theprocessing system, wherein the RUR comprising an identificationinformation and a resource usage description. This RUR can have the samedata structure as the RUR received from the network component 200. Theidentification information of the RUR received from the resourceprovider system comprises the device identification of one of thenetwork components. The resource usage description comprised in theanother RUR comprises a basic fee for providing access to a resource anda description of the resource. The device identification comprised inthe RUR generated by the resource provider system can enable processingthe RUR using the same selection criteria as for Milts received from thenetwork components. For instance, when the basic fee is for providingaccess to the same resource to the same user as in process block 200,then the device identification of the network component which hasgenerated the RUR received in process block 200 is comprised in theidentification information comprised in the RUR generated by theresource provider system.

The processing system is configured to perform the following steps inresponse to receiving the RUR from the resource provider system:identifying a resource type of the resource by using the resource usagedescription comprised in the received RUR (e.g. in the same way as inprocess block 201), identifying a user type of the user by using theidentification information comprised in the received RUR (e.g. in thesame way as in process block 202), and generating a record in thedatabase. The generated record comprises the resource usage descriptioncomprised in the received RUR, the identification information comprisedin the received RUR, and a charge amount being equal to the basic feecomprised in the resource usage description comprised in the receivedRUR. The generated record is associated in the database with theidentified resource type and the identified user type. The process ofthe record generation is similar to the process of record generation inprocess block 203, however the generated record in this case comprisesalready the charge amount. In the other words it is the record which hasthe same data structure as records generated in process block 305.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer-implemented method for changing a billingrule for a particular user. At least some of each of the billing rulescan have a respective resource usage specification. Thetelecommunication system can be configured to prompt a user to approvean alternative billing rule when a resource usage description does notcomply with a resource usage specification of a billing rule used forcalculation of a charge amount for the resource usage specification. Thepurpose of this procedure can be illustrated on the following exampleillustrating usage of three billing rules. A resource usagespecification of a first billing rule specifies a user internet traffichaving download volume of less than 1 Gb per month. A resource usagespecification of a second billing rule specifies a user internet traffichaving download volume less than 5 Gb per month. A resource usagespecification of a third billing rule specifies a user internet traffichaving download volume less than 10 Gb per month. Any of these billingrules is applicable for generation of charges for any data volumedownloaded by a user. However, they can be formulated such that theyprovide the best cost benefit when the actual download volume complieswith the resource usage specification. For instance, the first billingrule can specify a fixed charge amount of 1 Euro when a volume ofdownloaded. data is less than 1 Gb and 1 Eurocent for each extra 10 Mbof downloaded data. The second billing rule can specify a fixed chargeamount of 3 Euro when a volume of downloaded data is less than 5 Gb and1 Eurocent for each extra 10 Mb of downloaded data. The third billingrule can specify a fixed charge amount of 5 Euro when a volume ofdownloaded data is less than 10 Gb and 1 Eurocent for each extra 10 Mbof downloaded data.

The method begins with process block 400. In process block 400 therating system selects another billing rule when a resource usagedescription comprised in the batch data sent in process block 301 doesnot comply with a resource usage specification of the billing ruleidentified in process block 302 and complies with a resource usagespecification of the another billing rule. These two billing rules areassigned to different selection criteria, wherein the same resource typeis assigned to both of the selection criteria and different user typesare assigned to both of the selection criteria. Turning back to theaforementioned example, the resource usage description can specify avolume of downloaded data being equal to 4 Gb. The first billing rule isthe billing rule identified in process block 302, The charge amount inthis case is 4 Euro, i.e. 1 Euro for the first Gb and another 3 Euro forextra 3 Gb. The charge amount would be only 3 Euro when the secondbilling nine is applied. In this case, the rating system selects thesecond billing rule in process block 400.

Process block 401 is executed after process block 402. In process block401 the rating system sends a notification request to the processingsystem. The notification request comprises a description of the anotherbilling rule. The notification request can further comprise the resourceusage description for which the another billing rule is selected inprocess block 401.

Process block 402 is executed after process block 401. In process block402 the processing system receives the notification request. Afterwardsit identifies a record comprising the resource usage description forwhich the another billing rule is selected. This can be done using theresource usage description comprised in the notification request. Theprocessing system identifies a device identification associated with theidentified record. The processing system sends to a network componenthaving the identified device identification a notification messagecomprising the description of the another billing rule.

Process block 403 is executed after process block 402. In process block403 the network component receives the notification message. Afterwardsit prompts a user as to whether the user wishes to approve the anotherbilling rule. This can be implemented by displaying a description of theanother billing rule on a display of a user interface of the networkcomponent and receiving an input of the user via the user interfaceindicating either approval of the another billing rule or rejection ofthe another billing rule. The network component sends a response messageto the processing system in process block 404 executed after processblock 403, when the user has approved the another billing rule. Theresponse message indicates that the user has approved the anotherbilling rule.

The network component can be configured such that in case when inresponse to the displaying of the description no user input is receivedfrom the user within a predefined interval of time elapsed afterstarting of the displaying of the description the network component issends the response message by default.

When the network component is not equipped with the user interfaceoperable for displaying a description or as additional option thenetwork component can be configured to communicate via a computernetwork with a user device equipped with a user interface being operablefor displaying the description and receiving an input from the user. Theuser device can be for instance a smartphone or a tablet. In this casethe network component forwards the description to the user device. Inits own turn the user device forwards to the network component an inputof the user, if any, indicating either approval or the another billingrule or rejection of the another billing rule.

Process block 405 is executed after process block 404 in case when theresponse message is sent. In process block 405 the processing systemreceives the response message. Afterwards it executes a reconfigurationprocedure. The reconfiguration procedure causes the processing system toidentify another user type in process block 202 in response to receivingin process block 200 of a RUR from the network component having thedevice identification identified in process block 402, when a resourcetype identified in process block 201 using a resource usage descriptioncomprised in the received RUR is the resource type assigned to theselection criterion assigned to the another billing rule selected inprocess block 400, wherein the another user type is assigned to theselection criterion assigned to the another billing rule selected inprocess block 400. The reconfiguration procedure can be implemented bycancelling assignment of a user type assigned to the deviceidentification identified in process block 402 and assigning the anotheruser type assigned to the selection criterion assigned to the anotherbilling rule selected in process block 400 to the device identificationidentified in process block 402.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer-implemented method for generatinginvoices. The method begins with process block 500. The invoicing systemsends a request for invoice data request to the processing system. Thebilling request comprises a record selection criterion assigned to auser. The billing request can be send at an end of a billing cycleassigned to the user. Process block 501 is executed after process block500. In process block 501 the processing system receives the request.Afterwards it selects in the database records complying with the recordselection criterion specified in the request. The selected recordscomprise charge amounts. The selection of records can be restricted tothe billing cycle, i.e. only records comprising resource usagedescriptions indicating that resources used according to that resourceusage descriptions are used during the billing cycle. The recordselection criterion can comprise a list of device identification. Therecord selection criterion can specify that an identificationinformation of a record to be selected comprises any one of the deviceidentifications of the list. The list can be comprised in the request.Process block 502 is executed after process block 50. In process block502 the processing system sends invoice data comprising charge amountscomprised in the records selected in process block 501. The invoice datacan further comprise resource usage descriptions comprised in therecords selected in process block 501. Process block 503 is executedafter process block 502. In process block 503 the invoicing systemreceives the invoice data and generates an invoice using the receivedinvoice data. Afterwards, the invoicing system can send it to the user.The list of the device identifications used in process blocks 500 and501 can be assigned in the invoicing system to the user to whom theinvoice is sent.

FIG. 6 illustrates a computer-implemented method for changing a billingrule for a user initiated by the invoicing system. At least some of eachof the billing rules can have a respective assigned cumulative resourceusage specification. The telecommunication system can be configured toprompt a user to select an alternative billing rule when a cumulativeresource usage volume calculated using resource usage descriptionscomprised in invoice data does not comply with a cumulative resourceusage specification, wherein the cumulative resource usage specificationis assigned to a billing rule used for calculating charge amounts usingthe same resource usage descriptions. The cumulative resource usagevolume can be a sum of resource usage quantities specified in theresource usage descriptions. Alternatively, the user can triggerexecution of this method after a receipt of the invoice generated inprocess block 503. He may send a request for another billing rule to beassigned for generation of charge amounts for a particular resource (orresource type) consumed/used by the user. This method can enable toapply a new billing rule in a next billing cycle on a basis of acumulative resource usage volume calculated for a resource (or resourcetype) consumed/used in a previous billing cycle. The purpose of thisprocedure can be illustrated on the following example illustrating usageof a first and a second billing rule. A cumulative resource usagespecification of a first billing rule specifies a total duration ofphone calls made by a user being more than 60 minutes per billing cycle.A cumulative resource usage specification of a second billing rulespecifies a total duration of phone calls made by a user being more than90 minutes per billing cycle. The first billing rule specifies atelephone call price of 2 Eurocent per minute. The second billing rulespecifies a telephone call price of 1 Eurocent per minute.

The method begins with process block 600. In process block 600 theinvoicing system calculates a cumulative resource usage volume using theresource usage descriptions in the invoice data. All resource usagedescriptions are comprised in records complying with a selectioncriterion assigned to a billing rule, which is used for calculation ofcharge amounts for each of the resource usage records used for thecalculation cumulative resource usage volume. Process block 601 isexecuted after process block 600. In process block 601 the invoicingsystem selects another billing rule when the cumulative resource usagevolume complies with a cumulative resource usage specification of theanother billing rule. The another billing rule is assigned to anotherselection criterion. The same resource user type is assigned to theanother selection criterion and the selection criterion. Different usertypes are assigned to the another selection criterion and the selectioncriterion. Another user type is assigned to the another selectioncriterion.

Turning back to the aforementioned example. The invoice data cancomprise two resource usage descriptions. Each of the resource usagedescriptions specifies a phone call having a duration of 40 minutes. Acumulative resource usage volume is 80 minutes. The charge amountscomprised in the invoice are generated according to the first billingrule. The cumulative resource usage volume complies with the cumulativeresource sage specification assigned to the second billing rule. Thusthe second billing rule is selected in process block 601. This billingrule can be used for the next billing cycle.

Execution of process blocks 601 and 600 can be triggered automaticallyby the invoicing system. In response to receiving of an invoice data theinvoicing system can calculate a cumulative resource usage value for oneor more billing rules which where used for calculation the chargeamounts comprised in the invoice data. Alternatively a user can send arequest to change a billing rule according to which charge amounts(related to particular resource or resource type) in his invoice arecalculated.

Process block 602 is executed after process block 601 when the anotherbilling rule is selected in process block 601. In process block 602 theinvoicing system the user as to whether the user wishes to approve theanother bulling rule. This can be done using a user device of the userin a similar or the same way as described in process block 403. Processblock 603 is executed after process block 602 when the user has approvedthe another billing rule. In process block 603 the invoicing systemsends a request to use the another billing rule for the user. Processblock 604 is executed after process block 603. In process block 604 theprocessing system receives the request. Afterwards it executes areconfiguration procedure. The reconfiguration procedure causes theprocessing system to identify the another user type in process block 202in response to receiving in process block 200 of a RUR from a networkcomponent having a device identification comprised in a list of deviceidentifications assigned to the user, when a resource type identified inprocess block 201 using a resource usage description comprised in thereceived RUR is the resource type assigned to the another selectioncriterion assigned to the another billing rule selected in process block601, wherein the another user type is assigned to the another selectioncriterion assigned to the another billing rule selected in process block601. The reconfiguration procedure can be implemented by cancellingassignment of a user type assigned to a device identification comprisedin the list and assigning the another user type assigned to the anotherselection criterion assigned to the another billing rule selected inprocess block 601 to the device identification comprised in the list.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a computer-implemented method forassigning another billing rule to a selection criterion. The methodbegins with process block 700 in process block 700 the processing systemreceives a request to assign another billing rule to the selectioncriterion. The request can be received from a resource provider. Processblock 701 is executed after process block 700. In process block 701 theprocessing system cancels the assignment of a billing rule to theselection criterion specified in the request. Process block 702 isexecuted after process block 701. In process block 702 the processingsystem assigns the another billing rule specified in the request to theselection criterion specified in the request. Process block 703 isexecuted after process block 702. In process block 703 the processingsystem selects records complying with the selection criterion specifiedin the request. Afterwards it sends a notification message to networkcomponents of the telecommunication system, each having deviceidentification associated with the respective selected record. Thenotification message comprises a description of the another billing rulespecified in the request. Process block 704 is executed after processblock 703. In process block 704 the network component receives thenotification message. Afterwards it sends a communication signal to auser. The communication signal comprises the description of the anotherbilling rule. The communication signal can be sent to the user via auser interface of the network component and/or via a user interface of auser device of the user as described above. Process block 705 isexecuted after process block 702 in process block 705 the processingsystem sends a configuration instruction to the rating system to use theanother billing rule for generation of charge amounts comprised in batchdata comprising resource usage descriptions comprised in recordsselected according to the selection criterion. Process block 706 isexecuted after process block 705. In process block 706 the rating systemreceives the configuration instruction from the processing system.Afterwards is executes a reconfiguration procedure causing the ratingsystem to generate charge amounts using the another billing rule infurther execution of process block 303 when another batch data receivedfrom processing system comprises resource usage descriptions comprisedin records selected in process block 300 according to the selectioncriterion specified in the request received in process block 700.

FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of a computer-implemented method forassigning of another billing rule to a selection criterion on a basis ofa cumulative resource usage volume calculated using resource usagedescriptions comprised in records selected according to a selectioncriterion. This functionality requires assignment of a respectivecumulative resource usage specification to each of at least some of thebilling rules. The method begins with a process block 800 beingcomprised in process block 302. In process block 800 the rating systemgenerates a cumulative resource usage volume using the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the batch data received in process block 302.Process block 801 causes execution of process block 802 before executionof process block 303 when the cumulative resource usage volume does notcomply with the cumulative resource usage specification assigned to thebilling nine identified in process block 302. Process block 801 causesexecution of process block 805 when the cumulative resource usage volumedoes not comply with the cumulative resource usage specificationassigned to the billing rule identified in process block 302.

In process block 802 the rating system selects anther billing rule,wherein the cumulative resource usage volume complies with a cumulativeresource usage specification of the another billing rule. Process block803 is executed after process block 802. In process block 803 the ratingsystem cancels the assigning of the billing rule identified in processblock 302. Process block 804 is executed after process block 803. Inprocess block 804 the rating system assigns the billing rule selected inprocess block 802 to the selection criterion. As a result thereof thecharge amounts in process block 303 are generated using the billing ruleselected in process block 802.

In process block 805 the rating system sends to the processing system anotification request comprising a description of the another billingrule selected in process block 802. Process block 806 is executed afterprocess block 805. In process block 806 the processing system receivesthe notification request. Afterwards the processing system selectsrecords complying with the selection criterion used in process block 300and sends a notification message to network components of thetelecommunication system, each having device identification associatedwith the respective selected record. The notification message comprisesa description of the another billing rule selected in process block 802.In response to receiving of a notification message the network componentsends a communication signal to a user. The communication signalcomprises the description of the another billing rule. The sending ofthe communication signal can be performed in the same way as in processblock 704.

FIG. 9 illustrates a computer-implemented method for initial processingof the RURs received from network components 101, 102 and generation ofrecords in the database 130 in response to the receiving of the RURs.The network components are configured to control consumption of theresource distributed via a distribution grid 197 consisting of segments199, 198 and to generate RURs. The RUR generated by a network componentcan comprise a resource consumption description of the resourcedelivered via the distribution grid an identification informationcomprising a device identification of the network component andidentification data for identifying a node and/or a segment of the girdto which the network component is connected. The resource can beelectricity. At least some of the network components can be smart homeappliances. The distribution grid can be an electrical grid. The methodbegins with process block 900. In process block 900 the processingsystem receives a RUR from one of the network components for theresource consumed by a user. Process block 900 can be implemented in thesame way as process block 200. Process block 901 is executed afterprocess block 900. In process block 901 the processing system identifiesa segment of the distribution grid and a user type by using anidentification information comprised in the received RUR. Process block901 can be implemented in the same way as process block 201 and/or 202.The user type can be the same in the method depicted on FIG. 2 and inthe method depicted on FIG. 9. The segment of the distribution grid canbe processed in the same way as the resource type in methods depicted onFIGS. 2-8. Process block 902 is executed after process block 901. Inprocess block 902 the processing system generates a record in thedatabase. The record comprises a resource consumption/usage descriptioncomprised in the received RUR and as option the identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR. The record is associated inthe database with the identified segment and the identified user type.Process block 902 can be executed in the same way as process block 902.

The records stored in the database according to method depicted on FIG.9 can be used in any method depicted in FIGS. 3-8, wherein the segmentsof the gird are used as resource types.

FIG. 10 illustrates a computer-implemented method for controlling thegrid/network providing resource to users using the environment describedin the method depicted on FIG. 9, The method depicted on FIG. 10 beginswith process block 910. In process block 910 the processing systemreceives a request to change a billing rule assigned to a selectioncriterion. The request can be received from a resource provider of theresource. The request is generated by the resource provider on a basisof monitoring availability of the resource by resource sources (orresource generation facilities) 170, 171 connected to the grid 197. Whenthe resource is electricity, the provider can monitor electrical powerdeliverable by different electrical power plants such as solar cellpower plants, wind mill arrays, nuclear power plants, etc. Process block911 is executed after process block 910. In process block 911 theprocessing system changes the billing rule according to the request.Process block 912 is executed after process block 911. In process block912 the processing system selects records in database according to theselection criterion. Process block 913 is executed after process block912. In process block 913 the processing system identifies deviceidentifications associated with the selected records or comprised in theselected records. Process block 914 is executed after process block 913.In process block 914 the processing system sends a description of thechanged billing rule to network components which device identificationsare identified. Process block 915 is executed after process block 914.In process block 915 one of the network components receives thedescription of the changed billing rule. Afterwards it adapts control ofthe resource consumption according to the received description. Thenetwork component 101 can be configured to manage consumption of theresource by causing a resource accumulation device 193 being connectedto the same node of the distribution grid as the network component whena price of the resource according to the billing rule (or the receiveddescription of the billing rule) is below a predefined price and bycausing the resource accumulation device to provide the resource asalternative to the resource provided via the gird when the price of theresource according to the billing rule (or the received description ofthe billing rule) is higher than another predefined price.

The methods disclosed herein are flexible. It is possible to performvarious complex operations related to generation of invoices. Forinstance, it might be necessary to change a billing rule or user anotherbilling rule “post-factum,” i.e. after generation of invoices comprisingchange amounts which are generated using the an old (version) of thebilling rule. Such a request can be received for instance from aresource provider or a resource provider system. When required, theprocessing system can generate an new billing rule by changing the oldone according to the request. Afterwards process blocks 701-706 areexecuted. The next group of process blocks to be executed are processblocks 300-305. The selection criterion used in process block 300 forselection of the records to specifies not only parameters like a usertype and a resource type which were used for generation of chargeamounts using the old version of the billing rule or the old billingrule, but a time interval for selection of the records. This timeinterval can be provided by the resource provider which has requested achange. The time interval can be used for selection of recordscomprising resource usage descriptions of resources used/consumed withinthe time interval. Execution of process block 305 results in generationof records which comprise two charge amounts. However, the time intervalcan be selected such that charge amounts are generated for recordscomprising charge amounts which are not yet used for the generation ofinvoices in process block 503. For these records the charge amountscomprised therein can be substituted by the respective charge amountsgenerated according to the new billing rule. In this case the chargeamount generated in process block 303 is not appended to the record, butit is used to substitute the charge amount appended to the record inprevious execution of process block 305. In order to differentiatebetween these two cases, the records which contents are already used forinvoice generation can be associated with a data marker. Thus thesubstitution of charge amounts can be limited to only records to whichthe data marker is not assigned. When a record does not comprise acharge amount, then execution of process block 305 results in generationof the record comprising charge amount generated according to the newbilling rule.

The records comprising two charge amounts can be processed using a groupof process blocks 500-503. Moreover these records can be processes incombination with the records comprising only one charge amount. Theselection criterion procedure in process block 501 is modified in orderto enable selection of the records comprising two charge amounts. Themodified record selection procedure can enable selection of recordscomprising double charge amounts without restriction to the billingcycle. For instance the record selection procedure can have a specialoption for such records formulated as: a record to be selected has tocomprise charge amounts and its identification information has tocomprise any one of the device identifications of the list. The chargeamounts generated for the same resource usage description and comprisedin the same record can be associated with each other in the invoice datagenerated in process block 502. When the resource usage descriptions arecomprised in the invoice data, then the charge amounts generated for thesame resource usage description and comprised in the same record can beassociated with the resource usage description in the invoice data. Theassociation of the charge amounts can have a format indicating sequenceof their generation.

The process block 503 can comprise an additional process for processingdouble charge amounts comprised in single records. Insteadstraightforward specifying of both charge amounts comprised in onerecord in an invoice, the additional process is configured to calculatetheir difference and specify it in the invoice. For instance when thecharge amount generated last is bigger than the previously generatedcharge amount then a user has to pay the difference, i.e. a positivecharge amount being the difference of the charge amounts is specified inthe invoice. On the other hand, when the charge amount generated last isless than the previously generated charge amount then the user has to bereceive back the difference, i.e. a negative charge amount being thedifference of the charge amounts is specified in the invoice. Theprocess can be configured to differentiate between single charge amounts(i.e. charge amounts originating from the records comprising only onecharge amount, each) and double charge amounts (i.e. charge amountsoriginating from the records comprising two charge amounts, each) usingassociation of the charge amounts in the invoice data. The process canspecify a charge amount in the invoice when that charge amount does nothave an associated charge amount in the invoice data, and specify adifferential charge amount in the invoice for the associated chargeamounts, wherein the differential charge amount is equal to one of theassociated charge amounts minus another one of the associated chargeamounts, wherein the one of the associated charge amounts is generatedafter the another one of the associated charge amounts.

The preceding figures and accompanying description illustrate theexample processes and computer implementable techniques. But exampleenvironment (or their software or other components) contemplate using,implementing, or executing any suitable technique for performing theseand other tasks. It will be understood that these processes are forillustration purposes only and that the described or similar techniquesmay be performed at any appropriate time, including concurrently,individually, in parallel, and/or in combination. In addition, many ofthe operations in these processes may take place simultaneously,concurrently, in parallel, and/or in different orders than as shown.Moreover, the example environment may use processes with additional,fewer and/or different operations, as long as the methods remainappropriate.

In other words, although this disclosure has been described in terms ofcertain implementations and generally associated methods, alterationsand permutations of these implementations and methods will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description ofexample implementations does not define or constrain this disclosure.Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operationsdescribed in this specification can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, in tangibly-embodied computer software or firmware, incomputer hardware, including the structures disclosed in thisspecification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations ofone or more of them. Implementations of the subject matter described inthis specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs,i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on atangible, non-transitory computer-storage medium for execution by, or tocontrol the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or inaddition, the program instructions can be encoded on an artificiallygenerated propagated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical,optical, or electromagnetic signal that is generated to encodeinformation for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus forexecution by a data processing apparatus. The computer-storage mediumcan be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storagesubstrate, a random or serial access memory device, or a combination ofone or more of them.

The term “control system” refers to data processing hardware andencompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processingdata, including by way of example, a programmable processor, a computer,or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can also be orfurther include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a FPGA (field programmable gate array), or anASIC (application specific integrated circuit). In some implementations,the data processing apparatus and/or special purpose logic circuitry maybe hardware-based and/or software-based. The apparatus can optionallyinclude code that creates an execution environment for computerprograms, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocolstack, a database management system, an operating system, or acombination of one or more of them. The present disclosure contemplatesthe use of data processing apparatuses with or without conventionaloperating systems, for example LINUX, UNIX WINDOWS, MAC OS, ANDROID, IOSor any other suitable conventional operating system.

A computer program, which may also be referred to or described as aprogram, software, a software application, a module, a software module,a script, or code, can be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, or declarative orprocedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as astand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unitsuitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, butneed not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be storedin a portion of a file that holds other programs or data, e.g., one ormore scripts stored in a markup language document, in a single filededicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files,e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions ofcode. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computeror on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributedacross multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.While portions of the programs illustrated in the various figures areshown as individual modules that implement the various features andfunctionality through various objects, methods, or other processes, theprograms may instead include a number of sub-modules, third-partyservices, components, libraries, and such, as appropriate. Conversely,the features and functionality of various components can be combinedinto single components as appropriate.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable computers executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., a CPU, a FPGA, or an ASIC.

Computers suitable for the execution of a computer program can be basedon general or special purpose microprocessors, both, or any other kindof CPU. Generally, a CPU will receive instructions and data from a readonly memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM) or both. The essentialelements of a computer are a CPU for performing or executinginstructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions anddata. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupledto, receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more massstorage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks,or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices.Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobiletelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or videoplayer, a game console, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, or aportable storage device, e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive,to name just a few.

Computer readable media (transitory or non-transitory, as appropriate)suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include allforms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by wayof example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g.,internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CDROM, DVD+/-R, DVI)-RAM, and DVD-ROM disks. The memory may store variousobjects or data, including caches, classes, frameworks, applications,backup data, jobs, web pages, web page templates, database tables,repositories storing business and/or dynamic information, and any otherappropriate information including any parameters, variables, algorithms,instructions, rules, constraints, or references thereto. Additionally,the memory may include any other appropriate data, such as logs,policies, security or access data, reporting files, as well as others.The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in,special purpose logic circuitry.

The “electronic user interface” may be a “graphical user interface,” orGUI, may be used in the singular or the plural to describe one or moregraphical user interfaces and each of the displays of a particulargraphical user interface. Therefore, a GUI may represent any graphicaluser interface, including but not limited to, a web browser, a touchscreen, or a command line interface (CLI) that processes information andefficiently presents the information results to the user. In general, aGUI may include a plurality of user interface (UI) elements, some or allassociated with a web browser, such as interactive fields, pull-downlists, and buttons operable by the business suite user. These and otherUI elements may be related to or represent the functions of the webbrowser.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back endcomponent, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-endcomponent, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface ora web browser through which a user can interact with an implementationof the subject matter described in this specification, or anycombination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of wireline and/or wireless digital data communication,e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networksinclude a local area network (LAN), a radio access network (RAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX), a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) using, for example, 802.11 a/b/g/n and/or 802.20, all ora portion of the Internet, and/or any other communication system orsystems at one or more locations. The network may communicate with, forexample, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, Frame Relay frames,Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, voice, video, data, and/or othersuitable information between network addresses.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

In some implementations, any or all of the components of the computingsystem, both hardware and/or software, may interface with each otherand/or the interface using an application programming interface (API)and/or a service layer. The API may include specifications for routines,data structures, and object classes. The API may be either computerlanguage independent or dependent and refer to a complete interface, asingle function, or even a set of APIs. The service layer providessoftware services to the computing system. The functionality of thevarious components of the computing system may be accessible for allservice consumers via this service layer. Software services providereusable, defined business functionalities through a defined interface.For example, the interface may be software written in JAVA, C f or othersuitable language providing data in extensible markup language (XML)format or other suitable format. The API and/or service layer may be anintegral and/or a stand-alone component in relation to other componentsof the computing system. Moreover, any or all parts of the service layermay be implemented as child or sub-modules of another software module,enterprise application, or hardware module without departing from thescope of this disclosure.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyimplementation or on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather asdescriptions of features that may be specific to particularimplementations. Certain features that are described in thisspecification in the context of separate implementations can also beimplemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely,various features that are described in the context of a singleimplementation can also be implemented in multiple implementationsseparately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, althoughfeatures may be described above as acting in certain combinations andeven initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimedcombination can in some causes be excised from the combination, and theclaimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation ofa sub-combination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation and/or integration ofvarious system modules and components in the implementations describedabove should not be understood as requiring such separation and/orintegration in all implementations, and it should be understood that thedescribed program components and systems can generally be integratedtogether in a single software product or packaged into multiple softwareproducts.

Particular implementations of the subject matter have been described.Other implementations, alterations, and permutations of the describedimplementations are within the scope of the following claims as will beapparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the actions recitedin the claims can be performed in a different order and still achievedesirable results.

1. A telecommunication system comprising a rating system, a processingsystem, a database, and a network component configured to generateresource usage records, RURs, each comprising a resource usagedescription of usage of one of resources and an identificationinformation, the database being configured to store records, theprocessing system being configured to perform the following steps:receiving a MIR from the network component for a resource provided to auser, identifying a resource type of the resource by using a resourceusage description comprised in the received RUR, identifying a user typeof the user by using an identification information comprised in thereceived RUR, generating a record in the database, the record comprisingthe resource usage description comprised in the received RUR, theidentification information comprised in the received RUR, the recordbeing associated with the identified resource type and the identifieduser type, selecting records in the database according to a selectioncriterion specifying that a record to be selected is associated with aresource type assigned to that selection criterion and a user typeassigned to that selection criterion, and sending batch data to therating system, the batch data comprising resource usage descriptions,each comprised in the respective selected record, the rating systembeing configured to perform the following steps in response to receivingof the batch data from the processing system: generating a charge amountfor each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data,and sending a billing data to the processing system, the billing datacomprising the charge amounts.
 2. The telecommunication system of claim1, wherein the rating system is configured to generate charge amountsfor resource usage description comprised in batch data according tobilling rules, wherein each of the billing rules is assigned to arespective selection criterion of a set of selection criteria comprisingthe selection criterion, wherein the rating system is configured toperform the following step in response to receiving of the batch datafrom the processing system: identifying a billing rule assigned to theselection criterion, wherein the generating of the charge amount foreach of the resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data isexecuted according to the identified billing rule.
 3. Thetelecommunication system of claim I, wherein the rating system isconfigured to generate charge amounts for resource usage descriptionscomprised in batch data according to billing rules each having aresource usage specification, wherein each of the billing rules isassigned to a respective selection criterion of a set of selectioncriteria comprising the selection criterion, wherein the resource typeassigned to the selection criterion is the identified resource type andthe user type assigned to the selection criterion is the identified usertype, wherein the rating system is configured to perform the followingin response to receiving the of batch data from the processing system:identifying a billing rule assigned to said selection criterion, whereinthe generating of the charge amount for each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the batch data is executed according to theidentified billing rule, wherein the rating system is configured toperform the following steps in response to receiving the batch data fromthe processing system: selecting another billing rule when the resourceusage description comprised in the received RUR does not comply with aresource usage specification of the identified billing rule and complieswith a resource usage specification of the another billing rules,wherein the another billing rule is assigned to another selectioncriterion, wherein another user type and the identified resource typeare assigned to the another selection criterion, sending to theprocessing system a notification request comprising a description of theanother billing rule, the processing system being configured to performthe following in response to receiving the notification request: sendingto the network component a notification message comprising thedescription of the another billing rule, the network component isconfigured to perform the following steps in response to receiving ofthe notification message: prompting the user as to whether the userwishes to approve the another billing rule, sending to the processingsystem a response message indicating that the user has approved theanother billing rule, when the user has approved the another billingrule, wherein the processing component is configured to perform thefollowing in response to receiving of the response message: executing areconfiguration procedure causing the processing system to identify theanother user type in further execution of the identifying of a user typeof a user by using an identification information comprised in anotherreceived RUR, when the another received RUR is received from the networkcomponent for the resource provided to the user.
 4. Thetelecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the selection criterionspecifies that a record to be selected comprises a resource usagedescription for which the charge amount is not yet generated, and/orwherein the selecting of the records in the database and the sending ofthe batch data to the rating system is executed according to a scheduleand/or when an overall number of records in the database complying withthe selection criterion is bigger than a predefined value, and/orwherein the selection criterion specifies a predefined time interval inwhich a resource specified in a resource usage description comprised ina record to be selected is used.
 5. The telecommunication system ofclaim 1, the processing system being configured to perform the followingstep in response to receiving of the billing data from the ratingsystem: appending each of the charge amounts to the respective recordcomprising the resource usage description for which the each of thecharge amounts is generated, wherein the telecommunication systemfurther comprises an invoicing system being configured to perform thefollowing at an end of a billing cycle assigned to the user: sending tothe processing system an invoice data request comprising a recordselection criterion assigned to the user and the billing cycle, theprocessing system being configured to perform the following steps inresponse to receiving of the invoice data request: selecting otherrecords in the database each comprising an identification informationcomplying with the record selection criterion, a charge amount, and aresource usage description indicating that a resource used according tothat resource usage description is used during the billing cycle,sending invoice data to the invoicing system, the invoice datacomprising charge amounts, each comprised in the respective anotherrecord, the invoicing system being configured to perform the followingstep in response to receiving of the invoice data: generating an invoiceusing the invoice data.
 6. The telecommunication system of claim 5,wherein the generating of the charge amount for each of the resourceusage descriptions comprised in the batch data is executed according toa billing rule assigned to the selection criterion, wherein theprocessing system being configured to perform the following in responseto receiving the invoice data request: associating each of the otherrecords with a data marker indicating that the charge amount comprisedin the each of the other records is used for invoicing, wherein theprocessing system is configured to perform the following steps inresponse to receiving of a request to assign another billing rule to theselection criterion: cancelling the assigning of the billing rule to theselection criterion, assigning the another billing rule to the selectioncriterion, repeating the selecting of records in the database accordingto the selection criterion, and sending another batch data to the ratingsystem, the another batch data comprising resource usage descriptions,each comprised in the record selected in the repeating of the selectingof the records in the database according to the selection criterion,wherein the rating system is configured to perform the following stepsin response to receiving of the another batch data from the processingsystem: generating a charge amount for each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the another batch data using the anotherbilling rule, and sending another billing data to the processing system,the billing data comprising the charge amounts generated in thegenerating of the charge amount for each of the resource usagedescriptions comprised in the another batch data, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following step in response toreceiving of the another billing data from the rating system: appendingeach of the charge amounts comprised in the another billing data to therespective record comprising the resource usage description for whichthe each of the charge amounts comprised in the another billing data isgenerated when the respective record comprising the resource usagedescription for which the each of the charge amounts comprised in theanother billing data is generated does not comprise the charge amount orthe respective record comprising the resource usage description forwhich the each of the charge amounts comprised in the another billingdata is generated is associated with the data marker, otherwisesubstituting a charge amount comprised in the respective recordcomprising the resource usage description for which the each of thecharge amounts comprised in the another billing data is generated by theeach of the charge amounts comprised in the another billing data.
 7. Thetelecommunication system of claim 6, wherein the invoicing system beingconfigured to perform the following step at an end of another billingcycle assigned to the user: sending to the processing system anotherinvoice data request comprising the record selection criterion and theanother billing cycle, the processing system being configured to performthe following steps in response to receiving of the invoice datarequest: selecting other records in the database each comprising eitheran identification information complying with the record selectioncriterion, only one charge amount, and a resource usage descriptionindicating that a resource used according to that resource usagedescription is used during the another billing cycle or anidentification information complying with the record selection criterionand charge amounts, and sending another invoice data to the invoicingsystem, the invoice data comprising charge amounts each comprised in therespective another record selected in the selecting of the other recordsin the database each comprising either an identification informationcomplying with the record selection criterion, only one charge amount,and the resource usage description indicating that the resource usedaccording to that resource usage description is used during the anotherbilling cycle or the identification information complying with therecord selection criterion and the charge amounts, wherein the chargeamounts comprised in the same record are associated with each other inthe another invoice data, the invoicing system being configured toperform the following step in response to receiving of the anotherinvoice data: generating another invoice using the another invoice data,wherein the generating of the another invoice using the another invoicedata comprises: specifying a charge amount in the another invoice whenthat charge amount does not have an associated charge amount in theanother invoice data, and specifying a differential charge amount in theanother invoice for the associated charge amounts, wherein thedifferential charge amount is equal to one of the associated chargeamounts minus another one of the associated charge amounts, wherein theone of the associated charge amounts is generated after the another oneof the associated charge amounts.
 8. The telecommunication system ofclaim 5, wherein the identification information of the received RURcomprises a device identification of the network component, wherein thetelecommunication system comprises a resource provider system configuredto generate RURs related to basic fees for providing access to theresource for the user, wherein the resource provider system isconfigured to perform the following step: sending another RUR to theprocessing system, the another RUR comprising an identificationinformation and a resource usage description, the identificationinformation comprised in the another RUR comprising the deviceidentification of the network component, the resource usage descriptioncomprised in the another RUR comprising a basic fee for providing accessto the resource and a description of the resource wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following steps: receiving theanother RUR from the resource provider system, identifying a resourcetype of the resource by using the resource usage description comprisedin the another RUR, identifying a user type of the user by using theidentification information comprised in the another RUR, generatinganother record in the database, the another generated record comprisingthe resource usage description comprised in the another RUR, theidentification information comprised in the another RUR, a charge amountbeing equal to the basic fee comprised in the resource usage descriptioncomprised in the another RUR, the another record being associated withthe resource type identified in the identifying of resource type of theresource by using the resource usage description comprised in theanother RUR and the user type identified in the identifying of the usertype of the user by using the identification information comprised inthe another RUR,
 9. The telecommunication system of claim 5, wherein theidentification information of the received RUR comprises a deviceidentification of the network component, wherein the record generated inthe step of the generating of the record in the database is assigned tothe device identification, wherein the record selection criterioncomprises a list of device identifications, wherein the record selectioncriterion specifies that an identification information of a record to beselected comprises any one of the device identifications of the list.10. The telecommunication system of claim 5, wherein the rating systemis configured to generate charge amounts for resource usage descriptionscomprised in batch data according to billing rules each having acumulative resource usage specification, wherein each of the billingrules is assigned to a respective selection criterion of a set ofselection criteria comprising the selection criterion, wherein therating system is configured to perform identifying a billing ruleassigned to said selection criterion in response to receiving of thebatch data from the processing system, wherein the generating of thecharge amount for each of the resource usage descriptions comprised inthe batch data is executed according to the identified billing rule,wherein the invoice data comprises resource usage descriptions, eachcomprised in the respective another record, wherein the invoicing systemis configured to perform the following steps: calculating a cumulativeresource usage volume of the resource using the resource usagedescriptions in the invoice data each having the respective chargeamount generated using the identified billing rule, selecting anotherbilling rule when the cumulative resource usage volume complies with acumulative resource usage specification of the another rule, wherein theanother billing rule is assigned to another selection criterion, whereinanother user type and the identified resource type are assigned to theanother selection criterion, prompting the user as to whether the userwishes to approve the another bulling rule, sending to the processingsystem a request to use the another billing rule for the user when theuser has approved the another billing rule, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following steps in response toreceiving of the request to use the another billing rule for the user:executing a reconfiguration procedure causing the processing system toidentify the another user type in further execution of the identifyingof a user type of a user by using an identification informationcomprised in another received RUR, when the another received RUR isreceived for the resource provided to the user from any of the networkcomponents having a device identification comprised in the list ofdevice identifications.
 11. The telecommunication system of claim 1,wherein the identification information of the received RUR comprises adevice identification of the network component, wherein the recordgenerated in the step of the generating of the record in the database isassociated with the device identification, wherein the generating of thecharge amount for each of the resource usage descriptions comprised inthe batch data is executed according to a billing rule assigned to theselection criterion, wherein the processing system is configured toperform the following in response to receiving of a request to assignanother billing rule to the selection criterion: cancelling theassigning of the billing rule to the selection criterion, assigning theanother billing rule to the selection criterion, sending a notificationmessage to network components of the telecommunication system, eachhaving device identification associated with the respective selectedrecord, the notification message comprises a description of the anotherbilling rule.
 12. The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein therequest to assign the another billing rule to said selection criterionis received from a resource provider, and/or wherein a network componentof the telecommunication system is configured to perform the followingstep in response to receiving of the notification message: sending acommunication signal to a user, the communication signal comprises thedescription of the another billing rule.
 13. The telecommunicationsystem of claim 11, wherein the processing system is configured toperform the following in response to receiving of the request to assignthe another billing rule to said selection criterion: sending aconfiguration instruction to the rating system to use the anotherbilling rule for generation of charge amounts comprised in batch datacomprising resource usage descriptions comprised in records selectedaccording to the selection criterion, wherein the rating system isconfigured to perform the following in response to receiving of theconfiguration instruction: executing a reconfiguration procedure causingthe rating system to generate charge amounts using the another billingrule in further execution of the generating of a charge amount for eachof resource usage descriptions comprised in another received batch datawhen the another received data comprises resource usage descriptionscomprised in records selected according to the selection criterion. 14.The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the rating system isconfigured to generate charge amounts for resource usage descriptionscomprised in batch data according to billing rules each having acumulative resource usage specification, wherein each of the billingrules is assigned to a respective selection criterion of a set ofselection criteria comprising the selection criterion, wherein therating system is configured to perform the following steps in responseto receiving of the batch data from the processing system: calculating acumulative resource usage volume using the batch data, preforming thefollowing when the cumulative resource usage volume does not comply witha cumulative resource usage specification of a billing rule assigned tothe selection criterion: selecting anther billing rule, wherein thecumulative resource usage volume complies with a cumulative resourceusage specification of the another billing rule, cancelling theassigning of the billing rule to the selection criterion, assigning theanother billing rule to the selection criterion, wherein the chargeamounts in the generating of the charge amount for the each of theresource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data are generatedusing the another billing rule when the cumulative resource usage volumecomplies with the cumulative resource usage specification of the anotherbilling rule, wherein the charge amounts in the generating of the chargeamount for the each of the resource usage descriptions comprised in thebatch data are generated using the billing rule when the cumulativeresource usage volume complies with the cumulative resource usagespecification of the billing rule,
 15. The telecommunication system ofclaim 14, wherein the identification information of the received RURcomprises a device identification of the network component, wherein therecord generated in the step of the generating of the record in thedatabase is associated with the device identification, wherein therating system is configured to perform the following steps in responseto receiving of the batch data from the processing system: sending tothe processing system a notification request comprising a description ofthe another billing rule when the cumulative resource usage volume doesnot comply with the cumulative resource usage specification of thebilling rule assigned to the selection criterion, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following in response to receivingof the notification request: sending a notification message to networkcomponents of the telecommunication system, each having deviceidentification assigned to the respective selected record, thenotification message comprising the description of the another billingrule.
 16. A telecommunication system for controlling a distribution of aresource via a distribution grid consisting of segments, thetelecommunication system comprising a rating system, a processingsystem, a database, and network components configured to controlconsumption of the resource and to generate resource usage records,RURs, wherein each RUR comprises a resource consumption description ofthe resource delivered via the distribution grid an identificationinformation comprising a device identification of a network componentwhich has generated the each RUR, the processing system being configuredto perform the following steps: receiving a RUR from one of the networkcomponents for the resource consumed by a user; identifying a segment ofthe distribution grid and a user type of the user by using anidentification information comprised in the received RUR, generating arecord in a database, the record comprising a resource consumptiondescription comprised in the received RUR and the identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR, the record being associatedwith the identified segment and the identified user type; wherein therating system is configured to generate charge amounts for resourceusage consumption descriptions comprised in records complying with aselection criterion specifying that a record to be selected has theidentified user type and the identified segment, wherein the processingsystem is configured to perform the following steps in response toreceiving of a request to change the billing rule: changing the billingrule according to the request, selecting records according to theselection criterion, identifying device identifications comprised in theselected records, sending a description of the changed billing rule tonetwork components which device identifications are identified; whereinat least one of the network components is configured to perform thefollowing in response to receiving of the description: adapting controlof the resource consumption according to the received description. 17.The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein the request isreceived from a resource provider of the resource, wherein the requestis generated by the resource provider on a basis of monitoringavailability of the resource by resource sources connected to the grid.18. The telecommunication system of claim 16, wherein the at least oneof the network component is configured to manage consumption of theresource by causing a resource accumulation device being connected tothe same node of the distribution grid as the at least one of thenetwork components when a price of the resource according to the billingrule is below a predefined price and by causing the resourceaccumulation device to provide the resource as alternative to theresource provided via the gird when the price of the resource accordingto the billing rule is higher than another predefined price.
 19. Thetelecommunication system of claim 16, wherein the resource iselectricity and/or the at least one of the network components is a smarthome appliance.
 20. A computer-implemented method for processing ofresource usage records, RURs, in a telecommunication system comprising arating system, a database, a processing system, and a network componentconfigured to generate the RURs, each of the RURs comprising a resourceusage description of usage of one of resources and an identificationinformation, the method comprising the following steps performed by theprocessing system: receiving a RUR from the network component for aresource provided to a user, identifying a resource type of the resourceby using a resource usage description comprised in the received RUR,identifying a user type of the user by using an identificationinformation comprised in the received RUR, generating a record in thedatabase, the record comprising the resource usage description comprisedin the received RUR, the identification information comprised in thereceived RUR, the record being associated with the identified resourcetype and the identified user type, selecting records in the database,each complying with a selection criterion specifying that a record to beselected is associated with a resource type assigned to the selectioncriterion and a user type assigned to the selection criterion, andsending batch data to the rating system, the batch data comprisingresource usage descriptions, each comprised in the respective selectedrecord, the method further comprising the following steps beingperformed by the rating system in response to receiving of the batchdata from the processing system: generating a charge amount for each ofthe resource usage descriptions comprised in the batch data, and sendinga billing data to the processing system, the billing data comprising thecharge amounts.